5 Tips for Eco Dorm Room Living

I wrote this article back in college well over 10 years ago for The Daily Cougar, The University of Houston's on campus newspaper. When decluttering my office space recently I came across this article again and I thought I would share because I think all of these eco dorm room tips still stand true. I did tweak just a few things like the brands of certain items.


Living a green and sustainable life is something that a lot of people want to do, but do not know where to begin. College is costing students more money every year, and you think, “How could I possibly make green changes in my life without breaking the bank?” There are actually plenty of small things you can do whether you are living the dorm life or live off campus. Let’s start with a few simple inexpensive things you can do:

1. Use power strips for all your electronics. Besides saving a ton of energy, they will save you money in the long run on your electric bill. Just turn the power strips off when you are not home and this reduces the amount of vampire energy that you could be wasting. Also, power strips help protect your electronics in the case of a storm. You can pick these up at your local hardware, grocery and home goods store.
2. Buy Organic. Whether it is linens or food, organic is better for you and the environment. Organic materials have become less expensive throughout the years and are now very affordable. You can buy reasonable organic linens at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. For organic food, go to your local farmers markets. Farmers markets carry anything from fruits and vegetables to homemade crafts. You can find a list of farmers markets in the Houston area at: http://www.visithoustontexas.com.
3. Use eco cleaners. They do the same job as any other household cleaner just without all the extra harmful chemicals. There is a variety to choose from, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s and Method are just a few of them. You can find these brands at places like Whole Foods, Kroger’s and Target.
4. Recycle. You can always recycle no matter where you are at. It is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help the environment. You can separate your recycling using boxes, small trashcans or any type of storage bins. You can recycle just about anything. For a list of recycling centers in Houston that recycle a variety of items go to: www.houstontx.gov. 
5. Buy used. There are many of great, used items that people are constantly getting rid of. You buy, sell or trade with others in order get what you are looking for and by leaving a smaller carbon footprint. You can use websites such as: www.houston.craigslist.com or www.freecycle.org (I think this is currently on hold due to COVID-19)

These are all things that you can do for $50 or less. No matter who you are or what you do, taking the smallest of steps to do your part for the environment helps more than you could ever imagine. You can not just become green overnight it is a process which takes time. Whether you do all the things on the list or just one, you are still making a world of difference for yourself and the environment.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Photo by Gabriel Beaudry on Unsplash